AFL Week 10 Game Previews

Philadelphia vs Cleveland

The Soul proved they are the dominant team in the league, ripping apart the previously undefeated Dallas Desperados, 57-28. Philadelphia jumped out to an early 21-0 second quarter lead, and by halftime the game was already decided. The Soul scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and shut out Dallas until the five minute mark in the second quarter, stopping them on an interception and two turnovers on downs. Eddie Moten recorded three interceptions and the Desperados were held under thirty points for the first time since 2004. Matt D'Orazio threw 6 touchdowns and completed 20 passes for 194 yards. Larry Brackins caught 7 passes for 77 yards and 3 touchdowns. Philadelphia had 20 rushing attempts for 115 yards and 2 scores. The Soul try to avoid a letdown when they go to Cleveland for what might be a tougher than expected road game.

Philadelphia on offense: After last week's game, it would be hard to find a weakness in this unit. Matt D'Orazio is one of the elite quarterbacks in the league and is only the backup to the injured Tony Graziani. Philadelphia has two quarterbacks that display consistency, accuracy, and good football intelligence. Rarely are passes intercepted or uncatchable for receivers. Chris Jackson and Larry Brackins continue to pull in 100-yard performances and multiple touchdown receptions in each game. Combine all of that with a powerful fullback and that is how you score on almost every possession. Philadelphia should have plenty of opportunities for big gains on passing plays since Cleveland's secondary is struggling to cover deep routes of fifteen yards or more. The Soul should be able to complete about 70% of their passes against an inexperienced and worn out Gladiators defense. Near the goal line they will have a chance to run the ball for scores with fullback Wes Ours. Some deep post and fly routes will be attempted by Chris Jackson and Larry Brackins and both may produce good results in this game.

Philadelphia on defense: The Soul showed they are a balanced team on both sides of the ball. They only allowed 28 points to a dangerous Desperados offense, led by arguably the best quarterback in Clint Dolezel. Philadelphia used their pass rush to force Dolezel out of the pocket and that limited his field of vision and he couldn't find open receivers. The secondary played great man-to-man coverage and on the majority of plays, receivers were tackled upon contact. Philadelphia has had an impressive goal line and red zone defense for the past few years and the previous game against Dallas exemplidied it, as they made numerous stops inside the 10-yard line. The Gladiators offensive line has displayed moments of vulnerability and linemen have been beat by faster defensive players. The Soul will look to expose that weakness and force Raymond Philyaw to scramble around. Cleveland has been inconsistent on third and fourth down conversions and that plays right into the excellent pressure generated by the Soul linemen and the suffocating coverage downfield by the secondary. Philadelphia should force interceptions and stops near the goal line and they will leave the Cleveland offense very confused.

Cleveland is 4-4 on the year and while that might be decent for some teams, it's quite a disappointment after their 3-0 start. The once explosive and high-powered offense has fallen apart in recent games, their latest performance being a 39-point output against the New York Dragons. The Gladiators were forced into two turnovers and a few more defensive stops, with a couple occuring inside the red zone. Although Cleveland trailed by 15 at halftime, they cut the lead to 10 points late in the fourth quarter, but missed a field goal with 47 seconds left that would narrow the margin to 7. Raymond Philyaw threw for only 179 yards and 4 touchdowns after putting up 300-yard games in the past few weeks. Robert Redd had a nice game as the Gladiators go-to receiver but Otis Amey and Willis Marshall combined for only 1 touchdown and 69 yards. The Gladiators now appear to be having difficulties on both offense and defense and face the undefeated Philadelphia Soul.

Cleveland on offense: The Gladiators have a hit or miss offense, they either score in a few plays or produce a turnover. This type of vulnerability has resulted in some very high scoring and comfortable victories and also blowout losses by 20 points or more. Cleveland would like to see consistency and fewer turnovers per game. Longer sustained drives might take more time off the clock, but it will allow Philyaw to develop shorter routes that can create positive yardage for the Gladiators. The receivers will have the confidence boost of having simple catches and the ability to run for additional yards throughout each game. For Cleveland, a ball control offense is what can really help them. Five and ten yard completions are necessary and the deep passes can still be used in moderation. Cleveland will score more often when put into short yardage situations, and picking up first downs in the middle of the field will set up scoring opportunities. Stalled drives and third and long situations are the two problems that need to be quickly fixed.

Cleveland on defense: The Gladiators are way more experienced on offense and the lack of experience in this area is showing. The Gladiators have allowed 60 points or more in several games and have allowed 8 touchdowns or more with lots of frequency. Cleveland has not been able to generate a strong pass rush and quarterbacks have too much time to throw the ball and wait for routes to develop. The defensive line is a little undersized and not filled with speed. Offenses are comfortable and plays are always developing. Cleveland has forced some turnovers and that has allowed them to win a few games. The secondary is still ketting receivers get by them on routes and it's resulting in big gains. The players are not aware of what's happening in terms of adjusting to routes and staying step-by-step with receivers. Too often the receiver makes a move or breaks off a route and is wide open. Cleveland needs to improve their secondary by watching more game film and going through more game situations and plays in practice. Since they don't have the talent or players to create a stronger pass rush this season, they need to focus on playing better coverage and limiting yards after the catch. The Gladiators have the ability to improve on defense but it will take a few games and they will still struggle against the potent Soul offense.

Prediction: Philadelphia 59, Cleveland 45

Grand Rapids vs Colorado

Grand Rapids has been an up and down team throughout the season and last week they picked up an easy victory, defeating Kansas City, 72-38. The Rampage stopped Kansas City on several occasions, forcing 3 interceptions, 1 fumble and 4 turnovers on downs. The eight defensive stops was a pleasant surrpise for a team that has trouble putting together a complete defensive effort. Grand Rapids lead 41-17 at halftime, and James McPherson threw 6 touchdowns while 4 more touchdowns were scored on rushing attempts. Grand Rapids only had 35 offensive plays and most of their scoring drives were set up in good field position, after turnovers or kickoff returns. Grand Rapids swept the season series with Kansa City, their first meeting being a 92-52 victory in which a record was set for points by a road team. The Rampage have a chance for another win as they face a weak Colorado defense and putting up points shouldn't be difficult.

Grand Rapids on offense: Like other young teams, the Rampage try to be a quick-score offense, relying heavily on long passes and short possessions. This has produced mixed results, as Grand Rapids has averaged 83 points in their 3 wins and 47 points in their 5 losses. Grand Rapids doesn't have a go-to receiver, each game a different receiver puts up big numbers, but it creates a lot of inconsistency. The Rampage need each receiver to be productive, having 3 receivers catch 8 passes and 2 touchdowns each is better than having 1 receiver catch 5 touchdowns and nobody else scoring. James McPherson is inexperienced but has a strong arm and his accuracy is improving. He can be molded into a good quarterback, but he needs more of his receivers to step up and take over a game. Grand Rapids should be able to complete long passes like they want to and their offense should keep them competitive.

Grand Rapids on defense: This is clearly the weaker of the two units and that is due to a few reasons. The Rampage are allowing teams to complete a lot of third and fourth down passes and allowing a lot of first downs in long yardage situations. They can't get teams off the field when it's third and long or they will give up a deep pass for a touchdown or an easy scoring chance. Grand Rapids performs well for a few plays or a couple of possessions, then all of the energy and good defensive coverage seems to disappear. The Rampage need to realize that although they can score, defense is what creates solid wins. They need a complete effort for the entire game, not just one possession. The defensive backs have some speed, but don't fully understand the routes and formations that are shown from opposing offenses. Grand Rapids needs to stop teams on third down and play with energy if they want to cut down on the points allowed. Against Colorado, this might not happen.

The Crush have 11 first year rookies on their roster and only 5 players with 5 years or more of experience. Since Colorado has had a lot of injuries this year, they have made a couple of roster moves. They added kicker Deric Yaussi and defensive lineman Lauvale Sape. Yaussi played in a smaller arena league and has worked out and practiced for Colorado in the past. Sape played for the New Orleans VooDoo before being waived and was once drafted by the Buffalo Bills and has played and practiced with a few NFL teams. Both of these roster moves appear to fill some of the holes in this Crush team. The defensive line has not generated a solid pass rush and Colorado's defense is near the bottom of the league. The new kicker should be better than Clay Rush, who has been one of the worst in recent memory, missing 12 extra points and making only 4 of 10 field goal attempts. In two games, missed field goals and extra points were the difference and the reason why both matchups were losses. It's not often that special teams and kicking can dramatically change a team's season, but the Crush would have been 5-4 and tied for second in the conference instead of 3-5 and tied for fourth and only a half game from being out of the playoffs if it wasn't for those missed kicks.

Colorado on offense: The Crush have an explosive and fast-paced offense. They are talented at many positions and are a threat to score on every possession. John Dutton is one of the premier quarterbacks in the league, and able to guide his team to victory. He has thrown 49 touchdowns on the season and is completing almost two-thirds of his passes. His 12 interceptions is still a lot but it's a result of the quick pace played by the team, the amount of passes attempted per game and the willingness of Dutton and his receivers to take chances if their is a possibility to score. Ben Nelson, Willie Quinnie, and Brad Pyatt all have 500 or more receiving yards and 11 touchdowns or more on the season. They can all run every type of route, whether it's a crossing route, post pattern, comeback route, etc. They also have the speed to run after the catch and break tackles so even short completions are sometimes going for long yardage. Chad Owens is a former NFL special teams player and a top college receiver who has been recently signed. He has pure speed and is dangerous on kickoff returns and is brought in occasionally as a receiver.

Colorado on defense: The Crush have been very disappointing in this area, after being among the best in 2007. They are allowing 57 points per game and over 60 points in their losses. Although they are not allowing a high amount of completions or yards per game, teams are scoring quickly and from good starting field position. Colorado used to have a decent group of linemen and strong coverage on short routes and the ability to stop running plays. Now they are allowing short passes to be turned into long gains and they are getting beat on deep routes. Completions of 10 yards or more are very common and possessions often end up in quick scores. Colorado has to find the enthusiasm and a good set of defensive backs to reduce the unusually high amount of points that are being given up. Yards per point reflect the amount of yards gained before a score and the Crush are near the bottom in this category, so they are giving up touchdowns because opponents start off with short fields.

Prediction: Colorado 70, Grand Rapids 63

New Orleans vs Georgia

The VooDoo are 7-2 on the year and proved they are skilled on both offense and defense as they defeated Utah, 70-56. Although Utah is the only winless team in the AFL, they were the highest scoring offense coming into the matchup. New Orleans scored 10 touchdowns in the game and allowed just 14 first half points in taking a 28-14 halftime lead. The second half turned into a shootout, as both teams traded touchdowns and scored 42 points each. Danny Wimrpine threw 9 touchdowns and was named the offensive player of the week. New Orleans forced 4 defensive stops and created separation from the Blaze in a fast-paced game. The VooDoo played solid defense in the first half and improved their home record to a perfect 5-0. They take their explosive offense and quality defense on the road in a divisional battle against Georgia.

New Orleans on offense: Danny Wimrpine originally started off as a backup but has blossomed into one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. He has thrown just 3 interceptions, the fewest out of any quarterback and has 48 touchdowns to go along with it. When the ball is in his hand, you can almost expect a touchdown to follow. Jordan James and Javarus Dudley are the two top receivers for the VooDoo and have combined for nearly 1400 yards and 35 touchdowns. They are speedy, possess good hands and make plays to change the momentum of a game. Both like to run deep routes and go for the score. Ten receivers have caught a pass and five have 100 receiving yards or more. New Orleans is able to convert third downs and while most plays end up in short or mid-range completions, the VooDoo are always capable of big gains. New Orleans wants to create some distance between them and other division teams so expect them to have a strong offensive performance, even on the road in front of a hostile crowd.

New Orleans on defense: The VooDoo are known for their energy and intensity, especially during home games. On the road, they have still displayed signs of a physical defense and are solid when it comes to the fundamentals. New Orleans tackles very well, they don't give up many big plays and they tackle receivers right after completions. Thay are good at preventing yards after the catch and rushing yards. The secondary is very sharp at reading offensive formations and recognizing plays. They are among the leaders in interceptions and incompletions. Lin-J Shell and Calvin Spears lead the secondary and bring the excitement to every game. Along with Norman LeJuene, the VooDoo defense has shown they are a serious threat to shutting down offenses and their performances have changed the flow of games and provided some easy wins and close victories. New Orleans is not a fluke on defense and the solid performances will continue for the season and eventually into the playoffs. Against a Georgia team that has flashes of brilliance and explosiveness, the VooDoo will look to force stops and a lot of incompletions, since quarterback Chris Greisen sometimes has a tendency to throw into tight coverage and double teams.

Georgia had the second best record last season and are off to an unexpected 3-5 start. The offense is still talented and lead by a good quarterback, but the intangibles are not there. Greisen is completing the same amount of passes and throwing for a lot of touchdowns, but the Force lack the confidence and poise that is necessary to be a great team. I think Greisen will continue to improve throughout the rest of the season and starting with this matchup. He has good arm strength, a competitive spirit and a nice touch to his passes. Carl Morris, Tiger Jones and Troy Bergeron are the top Force receivers and have combined for 36 touchdowns and over 1600 yards. Morris and Jones do most of the scoring and are big play threats and Bergeron is a productive receiver who can pick up first downs and set up the Force in easier short yardage situations. Georgia plays much better at home and their offense really feeds of the enthusiasm of the crowd, so Georgia does have an opportunity to score and keep the game close.

Georgia on offense: After a shaky start to the season where all of the receivers were out of sync and passes were thrown over the heads of receivers, Georgia has settled down and the offense is operating with a little more confidence. Greisen is an effective communicator and can keep his teammates on track during a game. Even when the Force are trailing, Greisen and his receivers will continue to battle until the end. I think Gerorgia has some receivers that can be productive and reliable, they just have to run their proper routes and perform their asignments and things will be okay. Limiting interceptions and stops inside opponent's territory are important as the Force have been stopped on several occasions when they were inside the red zone or appeared like they would put up a touchdown. Those two or three possessions that are stopped by turnovers can make the difference in the eventual outcome of a game. Georgia should be able to create first downs and scoring opporunities, whether they convert them into touchdowns will determine if they stay close in this matchup.

Georgia on defense: The Force are not known for their defense, but this year they have been struggling. Georgia has allowed 60 points in a few games and they are surrendering a lot of completions on third and fourth downs. Georgia allows more second half points, so opponents are figuring out the pass coverages and wearing down linebackers and defensive backs late in games. During fourth quarters, the Force are unable to make the key stops that would secure victories or create opportunities to come back from defecits. The pass completion rate, yards per game, and other statistics are within the league average, but Georgia isn't making the clutch plays that made them winners last year. The Force have pressured the quarterback in certain instances, but not enough to disrupt an offense for a full game. The secondary is the same way, they have made some stops and sometimes play good coverage on receivers, but a few mistakes allows teams to take advantage and get right back in the game. Asking Georgia to shut down the VooDoo offense may be asking too much, but being reliable enough to make the playoffs and be a competitive team is well within reach.

By Chad Fukoka
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer

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